Robert Graham
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Robert was the son of Henry and Florence Louisa Graham nee Garnett. He had one brother, Henry (b. Bowes Park London 17 February 1899). His mother Florence Louisa was born in Newark in 1872 (A/M/J Newark), the daughter of James and Mary Elizabeth Garnett (later spelt Garnet). She had eleven siblings. She lived with her parents in Newark but by the time of 1891 Census was probably living at 169 Cleethorpes Road, Hull, as a boarder in the household of Robert Smith and his wife. She was 19 years old and employed (occupation illegible on census). No record of her marriage has yet been traced in the United Kingdom, but her son Henry's school record at Dulwich in 1912 gives his father's name, occupation ('independent means') and that he had 'died abroad', so the marriage may have taken place overseas. In 1901 Florence (29) and Henry (2) were registered at a lodging house at 6 Prospect Place, Harrogate, along with Florence's sister, Margaret Annie Garnet (17) a milliner's apprentice. Robert, was born the following year. Florence was widowed by 1911 and living at 'Manhattan', Buregate Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk, with her sons Henry (12) and Robert (9) who were attending a private school, St Felix. The brothers later attended Dulwich College and lived at 30 Chestnut Road, West Norwood. Henry left Dulwich College in April 1916 and joined the Indian Army. He served in Mesopotamia with the 67th Punjabis and was killed on 28 June 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq. (See record on this Roll of Honour) Robert's record on the CWGC Debt of Honour gives his mother's address as 23 Lytton Avenue, Palmer's Green, London. Florence was recorded at the Marina Lagos Hotel, Bexhill, Sussex, at the time the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939. Her date of birth was given as 16 March 1872 and she was of 'independent means'. She died at the Sherwood Hospital, Nottingham, on 20 March 1959. Probate was awarded to her married sister Margaret Annie Lyon. Florence's youngest brother, Grosvenor Garnet (sic), served with the Canadian Infantry and later as second lieutenant in the Lancashire Regiment. He was killed in France on 9 October 1917 and was buried in Cement House Cemetery, Langemark-Poelkapelle (see record on this Roll of Honour).
Royal Naval Reserve. HMS Vivid Robert was employed by the Clan Line. His ship was torpedoed in June 1918 and he was in the water for nearly seven hours before he was rescued. Clan Line released Robert so that he could join the Royal Naval Reserve as a midshipman. He was undergoing training at RN Barracks, Plymouth, when he was taken ill with influenza. He died on 2 October 1918 in the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth, of pneumonia. Robert was buried in Plymouth (Ford Park) Cemetery (grave ref: Church S.1.8).
See website 'dulwichcollege1914-18.co.uk/fallen' for obituaries and documents relating to Henry and Robert's school records inc. personal letters. HMS Conway was a naval training school established in 1859 to provide professionally trained and better educated officers for the merchant navy. Various ‘paid off’ ships of the line were utilised adopting the name HMS Conway. The ship was originally berthed on the Mersey near Liverpool, but was moved to the Menai Strait during World War II The school closed in 1974. Article published on 26th October 1918 in the Newark Herald :- Son of Florence L. Graham, 23 Lytton Avenue, Palmer’s Green, London. Grandson of Mr James Carnet, late of 6, Wellington Road, Newark. Educated at Dulwich College and H.M.S. Conway, afterwards joining the Clan Line. His ship was torpedoed last June and he was in the water for six-and-a-half hours. By arrangement with the owners of the Clan Line, he was released to enter the R.N.R.. Died of pneumonia at the Royal Naval Hospital, Plymouth. Younger brother of 2nd/Lt Henry Graham, Indian Army, killed June 1917. These two were the only children of Mrs Graham, formerly of Dulwich and Felixstowe.
